Those who WERE or ARE Elders (Re: Molestation Coverup)

by dontplaceliterature 44 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  dontplaceliterature

  I'd like to hear from those who are currently Elders or were formerly Elders on your honest feelings about the charges brought against The Society and their general policy in handling these matters.

  Do you think that The Society handles child abuse accusations fairly? Or, do you think their policy is abusive? Or, are you somewhere in between those two points on the spectrum? Do you feel that the direction in the "Flock Book" and the July 1989 BOE letter encourages Elders to sweep instances of child abuse under the rug? How have your feelings evolved over time, if at all?

  I know some have stated their opinion elsewhere (i.e. SIAM), but it would be great to see it restated here.
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  Marvin Shilmer

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  Do you think that The Society handles child abuse accusations fairly?

  Not from the perspective of protecting children.

  Or, do you think their policy is abusive?

  Or, are you somewhere in between those two points on the spectrum?

  I think Watchtower’s policy is inadequate, which tragically has resulted in harm to children inside and outside the Witness community.

  Do you feel that the direction in the "Flock Book" and the July 1989 BOE letter encourages Elders to sweep instances of child abuse under the rug?

  These directions have the consequence of hindering criminal investigation, and prosecution of those found to be criminals.

  How have your feelings evolved over time, if at all?

  They have not changed one bit.

  At the very least Watchtower should actively teach Jehovah’s Witnesses to report suspicion or child molestation to law enforcement authorities, and to invoke a policy that elders should always encourage this reporting the instance an allegation is made. Why it has restrained itself from coming out and telling the Witness community that it is the right and moral thing to report such suspicions to the police for sake of protecting all children, whether Witnesses or not.

  Marvin Shilmer

  http://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com
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  Bobcat

  Marvin said:

  Why it has restrained itself from coming out and telling the Witness community that it is the right and moral thing to report such suspicions to the police for sake of protecting all children, whether Witnesses or not.

  Marvin, this is getting closer to what I was asking about in the other thread about protecting children. Unfortunately, your sentence, which I copied, appears to have been intended as a question, and seems to be an unfinished thought. I'd really like to know what you think here. Why can't they come out with this position? What stands in the way? I know you said "power" in the other thread, but in what way? What would happen that they would view as bad if they did take that position?

  Thanks
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  sir82

  it has restrained itself from coming out and telling the Witness community that it is the right and moral thing

  to report such suspicions to the police for sake of protecting all children, whether Witnesses or not.

  The WTS maintains a fragile illusion, that Jehovah will protect his flock and that the Governing Body and local elders are Jehovah's agents for doing so.

  If the WTS were to encourage its members to report child molestation to the police, that would imply that at least in some cases, the organization cannot adequately protect its members on its own, that it needs outside help.

  However true that statement is, the WTS wants it hidden from the flock at, literally, all costs.
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  minimus

  They should have just listened to Barbara Anderson. That would've been a no-brainer.
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  designs

  In the 1980s when I was an Elder we had no real training in areas of marital counseling, teen counseling, drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, transgendered individuals, suicide, nor sexual abuse. It was like handing a scapel to a kid. We did our best to be compassionate and kind but we dealt with some really serious and tragic cases.
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  stuckinamovement

  The Conti judgement against them has been a long time coming. A few years back I had to handle a molestation case. The way the society handled it was appalling. They discouraged us as Elders from reporting it to the authorities and told us to neither encourage or discourage the mother of the victim to report it. (Fortunately she did)

  All communication had to be done over the phone, they specifically asked us not to send any written correspondence to them about it. After the pedophile got out of prision the branch gave us specific instructions not to warn the congregation about him, and instructions that we were not to stop him from participating in the door to door work. (fortunately everyone pretty much knew the story)

  The elder book gives explicit instructions that if you find out about abuse allegations your first step is to call the legal department. The fact that they want to be involved in it is for the sole purpose of covering it up and obstructing justice.

  SIAM
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  dontplaceliterature

  Marvin, thanks for the straightforward answers.

  Designs, your comment reminds me of one an elder made to me a couple years ago. He said that they were floored to be dealing with the problem in the first place and were bound to make mistakes.

  SIAM - Thanks for sharing. That's terrible. I wish my wife could hear stories like this. If you ever care to relate a more specific story (I'm not looking for names) that you think I could share with her without putting yourself in jeopardy, send me a PM.
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  daringhart13

  I was assigned a symposium piece (I forget the year; early 2000's) at Kingdom Ministry School....teaching the elders how to deal with sexual crimes.

  What stood out to me then, was that it was all about protecting the Society. There was almost no counsel given on how to help the victims recover or what it meant to the criminal or victim spiritually. It was all legal information.

  They cover it. Plain and simple. They tell people without two witnesses, they will do nothing. The person continues on in the congregation around the children.

  Its criminal. I hope the countless victims of this crime come forward and expose them for what they are.....but some of those victims are so damaged, they can barely function in life.
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  Balaamsass

  In the few cases I was involved in, WTBS simply obstructed justice and endangered more children. Their amatuer investigations gave molesters time to destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses. They ruined the District Attornies cases.